by Kelly on February 6, 2010
Do you ever feel like you are juggling your life? Or attempting to anyway (with a few balls dropped here and there)??? Despite our best intentions, some things get put on the back burner from time to time. Good habits we used to have fall away and something more urgent replaces them temporarily. It happens to all of us.
Have you been juggling your life and let your pole practice (or blog posts) slide? 
I know I have. In fact, I am going through that right now… so perhaps this post is me writing to myself some ways. Still, I think it’s important enough to be said.
If you’ve put your pole practice on the back burner or haven’t been as disciplined as you would like, that’s ok. Don’t beat yourself up about it… just make a new choice today. Make a new commitment and jump right back on the horse with the same passion you had before you fell off. Be careful not to let the downward spiral of feeling bad about yourself begin. Instead, this is the time to rise up, persevere, and kick some butt!
If it has been a long time since you have jumped on your pole, be aware that you may have lost some strength and toning you had. This can be very disheartening if you aren’t expecting it. It’s easy to feel like you lost all the benefits of the hard work you had done in the past. But keep your chin up. Your strength will bounce back quicker than you think and in no time you’ll be back to flying around the pole with grace and ease.
So sometimes life throws a few curve balls at you. Catch them the best you can and keep juggling. The important thing is that you keep trying even when you drop some balls. 
How to you deal with the constant juggling of life? Do you have any tips or tricks you use to keep you focused and motivated? I’d enjoy hearing your experiences!
by Kelly on January 7, 2010
Another important topic that we need to discuss is the size of the pole. Now I’m not talking about the height here (we’ll get to that when I cover specific brands)… I’m referring to how big your dance pole will be around.
The standard size for a pole is 50mm (2 inches) around. Recently, some manufacturers have started offering a “petite” or “skinny” version of their poles which measure 45mm (approx 1.75 inches). Although the smaller poles are recommended for those who are 5′4″ or shorter, the decision about which size to get is not as easy as it may seem.
Which size should I buy?
There are a few things to take into consideration here. If you plan on participating in any pole dancing compotitions 
down the line, you’ll definitely want to go for the standard 50mm size. The same is probably true if you are looking for a home pole to supplement studio classes you are taking. (Check with your studio to make sure that they use the standard size.) If you take classes on a 50mm pole and practice at home on a 45mm pole, the difference in sizes will impede your progress.
So let’s say you are under 5′4″ with small hands and you want a pole in your house just for fun… should you automatically lean toward the 45mm pole? Not necessarily. Remember that you will be holding the pole with other parts of your body than just your hands. The other thing to consider is your thighs. If you have a space between your thighs when you stand with your legs together, the 45mm skinny pole may not be for you since your thighs may not be able to grip it.
As you can see, which size of dance pole to get is far from cut and dry. It’s based so much on personal preference… I have heard of people who loved the petite poles, people who hated them, and those who thought they would love them but didn’t. Personally, I haven’t had an opportunity to try a 45mm yet, although I am looking forward to it. If you are having doubts, the safest bet is probably to go with the “tried and true” 50mm pole or see if a studio will let you try out one of theirs first.
If you already own a pole, what size is it? Have you tried both sizes? Input and opinions are always appreciated!
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